The Knicks' season outlook may be as bleak as it gets, but one NBA expert predicts a star will descend upon New York in the summer of 2019.
And that player is Kevin Durant.
ESPN's Zach Lowe says neither the Warriors forward nor his buddies currently know what Durant wants to do, but he may be tempted to follow LeBron James' example and help revive a legendary franchise like the Knicks.
"He's not going back to Oklahoma City," Lowe wrote. "I'd be dumbfounded if he joined LeBron [with the Lakers]. He must know the Warriors will always be [Stephen] Curry's team. The social media slights will never stop as long as Durant is there. People who know Durant say part of him must crave the challenge of being the undisputed alpha dog and lead ball handler -- of putting up a 32-10-8 stat line. Some of those same people wonder if he is a little scared of that challenge. A normal human would feel both of those things. But whoever revives the Knicks will become legend. They have a young co-star in Kristaps Porzingis who could take on more of the scoring burden as Durant ages."
Durant signed a two-year extension with Golden State but he can opt out after this season.
If the 2018-19 campaign doesn't end in a three-peat for the Warriors, Durant could be looking to move on, per Lowe.
"Win another ring, and Durant might feel he has accomplished what he set out to do. He's 30, at the height of his powers, free to choose his destination."
However, Durant has a better chance of staying with Golden State if he feels "newly essential" to the team, Lowe said. That could be the case if Klay Thompson (a free agent in 2019) does not re-sign and Draymond Green is delayed in signing an extension.
Lowe's prediction comes after Chris Haynes of Yahoo! Sports said earlier this month that the Knicks have a "very good shot" at luring Durant away from the Warriors.